After the paradise of San Blas the World ARC fleet are now in Shelter Bay Marina in preparation for the Panama Canal transits.Shelter Bay Marina is located on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal and will be home to the fleet for the next few days.
Several tours organized from Rally Control will give the chance to participants to enjoy the natural beauty, historical interest and diverse cultural experience of Panama
The Panama Canal joins the Atlantic and Caribbean seas to the Pacific Ocean, and for cruising sailors represents a milestone in their circumnavigations. The fleet will be split into two transit groups with the first group commencing their transit on 31st of January and the second group following on the 2nd of February.Each group will transit through the Gatun Locks (Atlantic side) in the afternoon before anchoring overnight in Gatun Lake, and then transiting the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks on the Pacific Side the following morning.
Before the transit yacht will be admesured, each one will be assessed by the Panama Canal Authority including measurement of length overall, beam and a number of other specifics taken for each vessel.
In between boat works and provisioning crews get the chance to visit the Gatun Locks Visitors Centre, an excellent facility where skippers and crews can observe first-hand the operations and procedures of the lock movements before taking their own vessels through.
World ARC 2016-17 crews took time out from their provisioning and Panama Canal preparations today to visit a remote village of Embera Indians on the banks of the Chagres river. It's a great chance to get in contact with the native population of Panama and learn more about their culture and their history.